Two separate data sets show more homes than ever are being fitted with low carbon heating solutions, while the number of qualified HVAC professionals is also rising.
In March 2025, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recorded a 13% rise in applications for government funding to cover all low carbon heating technologies. In total, there were 4,028, the first time numbers have passed the 4,000 mark since the introduction of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme.
MCS, the organisation responsible for setting standards for low carbon energy solutions, has also revealed that 2024 saw more heat pumps installed than ever before, with 58,176 systems introduced to households. Figures for 2025 are expected to exceed this total.
‘The latest Boiler Upgrade Scheme figures confirm that the government’s recently launched ‘Warm and Fuzzy’ public awareness campaign is already driving a strong surge in heat pump installations across England and Wales, with numbers of households switching to cleaner, greener, and more affordable heating solutions nearly doubling since this time last year,’ said Daniel Särefjord, CEO at Aira UK.
‘Over six months ago, Ministers committed to removing unnecessary planning permission barriers for heat pump installations in 2025 — yet action is still missing,’ he continued. ‘Once implemented, this long-overdue reform has the potential to unleash a tidal wave of new demand for air source heat pumps, dramatically accelerating adoption across the country. However, every day of delay risks holding back the growth of a vital clean heat market the UK urgently needs to deliver on its climate and energy security goals.’
Numbers from HVAC company Daikin also point to a significant boost to the country’s net zero ambitions. More than 6,100 installation professionals have benefited from free, face-to-face training in 2024, equipping them with the skills to fit, repair and maintain low carbon heating and cooling solutions. 11 new Sustainable Home Centre training facilities were also opened, further enhancing the UK’s capacity. Participants reported high levels of course satisfaction, with a 90% net promoter score. Efforts included more than £40,000 worth of Government-funded heat pump training.
‘Despite this success we still have to innovate to support the growing needs of UK installers, commissioning and service engineers and have some exciting new plans for 2025, which include opening more training centres, delivering more Heat Pump Training Grant funded courses on behalf of the UK Government and expanding our portfolio of free training,’ said Daniel Jackson, Training Manager at Daikin. ‘Not only are we building upon the successes of our training centres but in 2025 we will further expand our existing 40+ Sustainable Home Training Centres so that training is on the doorsteps to most engineers.’
Daikin is now looking at further expansion, boosting training capacity at the company’s Manchester site, and adding more locations to its existing network of 40 Sustainable Home Training Centres. Free training opportunities will also grow, reflecting the evolving needs of installers and engineers.
Image: Daikin
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